W.B. "Bernie" Abernathy 77, lost his battle with cancer on November 9, 2010 at the Fort Meade V.A hospice unit,and has gone to "his great plumbing shop in the sky."
Bernie was born May 8, 1933 to Floyd and Marion (Clough) Abernathy in Highmore, SD. He grew up on the family farm near Gann Valley, SD. He was the third of ten children, the protector and sometime instigator of their large family.
The dances in Gann Valley began when the Abernathy's showed up. In 1951 he joined the U.S. Navy and served in the Korean War.
After the service, Bernie worked oil fields around the country. In 1959 he married Jeanne (Myers). They settled in Spearfish in 1962, raised a family and his plumbing business prospered. Jeanne died in 1990 after thirty years of marriage.
In 1992 he married Colleen (Taggart) in Ft. Pierre, SD. Bernie and Colleen had an ‘open' house and loved to have family and friends visit. Bernie was a good cook and you never left their house hungry. They operated a campground during the rally and met many lifelong friends who return every year.
Bernie was a fun-loving, family man. He loved life, working and his family, especially his grandkids and great grandkids. He loved all kids and always made time for them and taught many how to drive. He enjoyed many coffee breaks with his buddies at the Millstone. Bernie also loved to hunt, raise chickens and ride his mules. He helped many people down on their luck over the years without a second thought.
Bernie will be missed by his wife, Colleen; his son Steven (Rose) Abernathy, Spearfish, daughters Stephanie, Charlotte and Amber; his two daughters, Laurie (Bill) Cornell, Garretson, SD, children Brittany, Christopher and Courtney; and Becky Huff, Gillette, WY, son Nickolas; seven step children, Ron (Kathy) Taggart, Winner, SD, Deb (Dean) Gaikowski, Waubay, SD, Rosanne Bisgard, Waubay, Patricia (Steve) Vertrees, Sacremento, CA, Randy (Thelma) Taggart, Great Falls, MT, Beverly (Mike) Skillstad, Norfolk, NE and Steven (Joan)Taggart, Great Falls; twenty-one more grandkids and thirty-five great-grand kids. In addition, he is survived by his six sisters, Dorothy Schulte, Pierre, SD, Leona Jacobsen, Ft. Pierre, Marcia (Roger) Knight, Ft. Pierre, Mary (Ron) Hendricks, Gann Valley, SD, Connie (Jim) Stebbins, Pukwana, SD, and Janet (Rod) Reuer, Chamberlain, SD.; and three brothers, Rich (Bonnie) Abernathy, Eaton, CO, Jim (Carol) Abernathy Federal Way, WA, John (Sandy) Abernathy, Chamberlain, and many nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Floyd and Marion Abernathy and first wife Jeanne.
Vigil service will be held at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Spearfish on Thursday, November 11th at 7:00pm. Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, November 12th at 12:00pm. Interment will follow at Black Hills National Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials have been established to the Spearfish VFW Post 5860 and Fort Meade VA Hospice Unit.
Bio/Pic Courtesy of Ellen.Bishop
Bernie was born May 8, 1933 to Floyd and Marion (Clough) Abernathy in Highmore, SD. He grew up on the family farm near Gann Valley, SD. He was the third of ten children, the protector and sometime instigator of their large family.
The dances in Gann Valley began when the Abernathy's showed up. In 1951 he joined the U.S. Navy and served in the Korean War.
After the service, Bernie worked oil fields around the country. In 1959 he married Jeanne (Myers). They settled in Spearfish in 1962, raised a family and his plumbing business prospered. Jeanne died in 1990 after thirty years of marriage.
In 1992 he married Colleen (Taggart) in Ft. Pierre, SD. Bernie and Colleen had an ‘open' house and loved to have family and friends visit. Bernie was a good cook and you never left their house hungry. They operated a campground during the rally and met many lifelong friends who return every year.
Bernie was a fun-loving, family man. He loved life, working and his family, especially his grandkids and great grandkids. He loved all kids and always made time for them and taught many how to drive. He enjoyed many coffee breaks with his buddies at the Millstone. Bernie also loved to hunt, raise chickens and ride his mules. He helped many people down on their luck over the years without a second thought.
Bernie will be missed by his wife, Colleen; his son Steven (Rose) Abernathy, Spearfish, daughters Stephanie, Charlotte and Amber; his two daughters, Laurie (Bill) Cornell, Garretson, SD, children Brittany, Christopher and Courtney; and Becky Huff, Gillette, WY, son Nickolas; seven step children, Ron (Kathy) Taggart, Winner, SD, Deb (Dean) Gaikowski, Waubay, SD, Rosanne Bisgard, Waubay, Patricia (Steve) Vertrees, Sacremento, CA, Randy (Thelma) Taggart, Great Falls, MT, Beverly (Mike) Skillstad, Norfolk, NE and Steven (Joan)Taggart, Great Falls; twenty-one more grandkids and thirty-five great-grand kids. In addition, he is survived by his six sisters, Dorothy Schulte, Pierre, SD, Leona Jacobsen, Ft. Pierre, Marcia (Roger) Knight, Ft. Pierre, Mary (Ron) Hendricks, Gann Valley, SD, Connie (Jim) Stebbins, Pukwana, SD, and Janet (Rod) Reuer, Chamberlain, SD.; and three brothers, Rich (Bonnie) Abernathy, Eaton, CO, Jim (Carol) Abernathy Federal Way, WA, John (Sandy) Abernathy, Chamberlain, and many nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Floyd and Marion Abernathy and first wife Jeanne.
Vigil service will be held at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Spearfish on Thursday, November 11th at 7:00pm. Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, November 12th at 12:00pm. Interment will follow at Black Hills National Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials have been established to the Spearfish VFW Post 5860 and Fort Meade VA Hospice Unit.
Bio/Pic Courtesy of Ellen.Bishop
W.B. "Bernie" Abernathy 77, lost his battle with cancer on November 9, 2010 at the Fort Meade V.A hospice unit,and has gone to "his great plumbing shop in the sky."
Bernie was born May 8, 1933 to Floyd and Marion (Clough) Abernathy in Highmore, SD. He grew up on the family farm near Gann Valley, SD. He was the third of ten children, the protector and sometime instigator of their large family.
The dances in Gann Valley began when the Abernathy's showed up. In 1951 he joined the U.S. Navy and served in the Korean War.
After the service, Bernie worked oil fields around the country. In 1959 he married Jeanne (Myers). They settled in Spearfish in 1962, raised a family and his plumbing business prospered. Jeanne died in 1990 after thirty years of marriage.
In 1992 he married Colleen (Taggart) in Ft. Pierre, SD. Bernie and Colleen had an ‘open' house and loved to have family and friends visit. Bernie was a good cook and you never left their house hungry. They operated a campground during the rally and met many lifelong friends who return every year.
Bernie was a fun-loving, family man. He loved life, working and his family, especially his grandkids and great grandkids. He loved all kids and always made time for them and taught many how to drive. He enjoyed many coffee breaks with his buddies at the Millstone. Bernie also loved to hunt, raise chickens and ride his mules. He helped many people down on their luck over the years without a second thought.
Bernie will be missed by his wife, Colleen; his son Steven (Rose) Abernathy, Spearfish, daughters Stephanie, Charlotte and Amber; his two daughters, Laurie (Bill) Cornell, Garretson, SD, children Brittany, Christopher and Courtney; and Becky Huff, Gillette, WY, son Nickolas; seven step children, Ron (Kathy) Taggart, Winner, SD, Deb (Dean) Gaikowski, Waubay, SD, Rosanne Bisgard, Waubay, Patricia (Steve) Vertrees, Sacremento, CA, Randy (Thelma) Taggart, Great Falls, MT, Beverly (Mike) Skillstad, Norfolk, NE and Steven (Joan)Taggart, Great Falls; twenty-one more grandkids and thirty-five great-grand kids. In addition, he is survived by his six sisters, Dorothy Schulte, Pierre, SD, Leona Jacobsen, Ft. Pierre, Marcia (Roger) Knight, Ft. Pierre, Mary (Ron) Hendricks, Gann Valley, SD, Connie (Jim) Stebbins, Pukwana, SD, and Janet (Rod) Reuer, Chamberlain, SD.; and three brothers, Rich (Bonnie) Abernathy, Eaton, CO, Jim (Carol) Abernathy Federal Way, WA, John (Sandy) Abernathy, Chamberlain, and many nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Floyd and Marion Abernathy and first wife Jeanne.
Vigil service will be held at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Spearfish on Thursday, November 11th at 7:00pm. Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, November 12th at 12:00pm. Interment will follow at Black Hills National Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials have been established to the Spearfish VFW Post 5860 and Fort Meade VA Hospice Unit.
Bio/Pic Courtesy of Ellen.Bishop
Bernie was born May 8, 1933 to Floyd and Marion (Clough) Abernathy in Highmore, SD. He grew up on the family farm near Gann Valley, SD. He was the third of ten children, the protector and sometime instigator of their large family.
The dances in Gann Valley began when the Abernathy's showed up. In 1951 he joined the U.S. Navy and served in the Korean War.
After the service, Bernie worked oil fields around the country. In 1959 he married Jeanne (Myers). They settled in Spearfish in 1962, raised a family and his plumbing business prospered. Jeanne died in 1990 after thirty years of marriage.
In 1992 he married Colleen (Taggart) in Ft. Pierre, SD. Bernie and Colleen had an ‘open' house and loved to have family and friends visit. Bernie was a good cook and you never left their house hungry. They operated a campground during the rally and met many lifelong friends who return every year.
Bernie was a fun-loving, family man. He loved life, working and his family, especially his grandkids and great grandkids. He loved all kids and always made time for them and taught many how to drive. He enjoyed many coffee breaks with his buddies at the Millstone. Bernie also loved to hunt, raise chickens and ride his mules. He helped many people down on their luck over the years without a second thought.
Bernie will be missed by his wife, Colleen; his son Steven (Rose) Abernathy, Spearfish, daughters Stephanie, Charlotte and Amber; his two daughters, Laurie (Bill) Cornell, Garretson, SD, children Brittany, Christopher and Courtney; and Becky Huff, Gillette, WY, son Nickolas; seven step children, Ron (Kathy) Taggart, Winner, SD, Deb (Dean) Gaikowski, Waubay, SD, Rosanne Bisgard, Waubay, Patricia (Steve) Vertrees, Sacremento, CA, Randy (Thelma) Taggart, Great Falls, MT, Beverly (Mike) Skillstad, Norfolk, NE and Steven (Joan)Taggart, Great Falls; twenty-one more grandkids and thirty-five great-grand kids. In addition, he is survived by his six sisters, Dorothy Schulte, Pierre, SD, Leona Jacobsen, Ft. Pierre, Marcia (Roger) Knight, Ft. Pierre, Mary (Ron) Hendricks, Gann Valley, SD, Connie (Jim) Stebbins, Pukwana, SD, and Janet (Rod) Reuer, Chamberlain, SD.; and three brothers, Rich (Bonnie) Abernathy, Eaton, CO, Jim (Carol) Abernathy Federal Way, WA, John (Sandy) Abernathy, Chamberlain, and many nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Floyd and Marion Abernathy and first wife Jeanne.
Vigil service will be held at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Spearfish on Thursday, November 11th at 7:00pm. Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, November 12th at 12:00pm. Interment will follow at Black Hills National Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials have been established to the Spearfish VFW Post 5860 and Fort Meade VA Hospice Unit.
Bio/Pic Courtesy of Ellen.Bishop
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